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Phillip Boyce was born and educated in New York City. At the age of 15, he decided to become a doctor. He worked his way through the first two years of medical school by writing and performing satirical monologues, and was so popular he even received offers from Starfleet to tour starships, but turned them down.

Dr. Phillip Boyce was assigned the Enterprise for the ship's first five-year mission between 2246 and 2251, where he worked as assistant chief medical officer under Dr. Sarah Poole-April. When Dr. April left the ship with her husband, Captain April, in 2251, Boyce was made chief medical officer, and served under Captain Pike. (TOSnovel: Where Sea Meets Sky)

According to "Who's Who in Star Trek," Boyce was assigned to the Enterprise following the death of the former chief medical officer, Dr Raintree.

On the Enterprise's next mission, to the Marrat Nebula, Boyce joined a landing party to Starbase 13 to assist the station's personnel after recent attacks by the Marrat brigand. Once aboard the station he worked with Nurse Carlotti and YeomanDermot Cusack to set up a triage center. Boyce rejoined the Enterprise when it went to investigate a loss of communication with the nearby Project Pharos, and was part of a landing party to Pharos when they arrived. Boyce's presence was fortuitous; allowing him to treat Cayman when he took a disruptor blast when the party came under attack by Klingons who had boarded the facility. (EVcomic: "The Fires of Pharos")

Over the years, Boyce and Pike became great friends, and the two would often share a drink and discuss their problems with each other. It was Boyce's support that helped Pike come to terms with the events on Rigel VII later in 2254. (TOSepisode: "The Cage")

Later that year, the Enterprise visited planetNeydra Prime to lend medical aid to the local populace. Dr. Boyce led the Enterprise medical teams, and while on the surface he murdered a local businessman. Captain Pike wanted to prove his innocence, but Boyce himself confessed that he committed the murder. At the trial, Boyce was represented by the VulcanAmbassador, Toluk, who performed a mind meld on Boyce to reveal the truth. His mind had been home to the consciousness of a patient he lost years before, who was a prisoner on the run. With the consciousness excised, Boyce was allowed to go free. (EVcomic: "Immortal Wounds")

One year later, a birthday party was held for Boyce on board the Enterprise. During the course of the party, chemicals that the ship was carrying were accidentally spilled onto some minerals. The reaction created a gas which got into the ventilation system and disabled several crew members. Years later, when Merkaan raiders had captured a Federation colony, Spock used the phrase "Boyce's birthday" to tell a former Enterprise crew member working as the colony administrator to use similar methods to disable the Merkaan invasion force. (TOSnovel: Legacy)

Boyce continued to serve on the Enterprise until 2264. By this time, Boyce was seriously considering retirement, especially after treating Number One following a serious accident in the ship's cargo hold, which crushed both her legs. (TOScomic: "All Those Years Ago...")

"You know, I was considering retirement... but this only reminds me of all the suffering I've seen over the years... and how glad I'll be to leave it behind. Sometimes, I wonder if I do any good at all."

An early draft of "The Cage" listed Boyce as being 51 years old in 2254, suggesting a birth year of 2203.

Boyce's appearance in the Early Voyages comic is a little different than in "The Cage", featuring a two-toned hair style. As explained in the letters page of issue 5 this is because Paramount did not have the likeness rights from the actor, so Boyce's appearance could not be an exact likeness.